Action Packed!
Hello everyone, we have had another action packed week at New Bridge College…
Lumenus update
“Hello everyone! This week in Lumenus we are very excited to be back at Oldham Theatre Workshop. We are at Oldham Theatre Workshop every Wednesday afternoon and all-day Thursday. They have a wonderful performance space with theatre lighting.
This year we are taking part in the National Youth Theatre Inclusive practice collective programme.
The Collective will:
• Create 60 new paid job placements for Young Inclusion Facilitators aged 18-24
• Facilitate two academic terms of regular inclusive theatre activity for disabled young people in 15 SEND Schools and Colleges in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and London
• Work with cultural partners to connect the collective to existing programmes and future employment opportunities
• Stage a digital festival celebrating inclusive theatre practice in schools and colleges
• Offer progression routes for young disabled people into the National Youth Theatre membership and on to other cultural opportunities
We were very excited to be asked to take part, especially as one of the young facilitators is an ex Lumenus pupil, David Jones. He is joined by Connor Fallon, Brodie Vale and Tilly Vale. This week we welcomed Brodie and Tilly to the School Site and David and Connor to the learning Centre with all four coming to Oldham Theatre Workshop on Wednesday afternoon. The facilitators are spending the next 3 weeks shadowing staff to get to know the pupils they are planning workshops for. After half-term they will deliver the workshops.
This term, on Wednesdays, the students will be developing their leaderships skills by taking part in workshops delivered by staff and outside arts professionals and delivering games and designing workshops. Here is Micaela leading the game ‘splat’.
Also, this Wednesday, Lumenus completed a review of ‘Standard Day’ which is the performance that the college went to watch last Friday. Here are Nicole and Beth taking part in an interview style review.
On Thursday Mornings we are studying Physical Theatre, in particular the work of Frantic Assembly. This week we were exploring the actions of push, pull, slide and twist. This is where students had to work in pairs and created a sequence using the push and pull force including counterbalance and then added a slide and twist to the motif. Over the coming weeks, they will be using various techniques to devise a Physical Theatre piece to develop, rehearse and perform at the end of the term.
In the afternoon, year 12s were introduced to Touchdown Dance and students undertook movement therapy. They had an amazing time. Year 13s and 14s started to work on their Unit 2 Silver Arts Award – Plan, Deliver and Review their own Arts Project. They intend to use the skills they are learning in Physical theatre sessions to create and deliver a workshop to Key Stage 4 Lumenus. Today they discussed and mind mapped all they knew about Physical Theatre. In pairs, they began to make step by step instructions for specific activities. It has been a very busy couple of pathway days. We are so happy to be back out in the community again using a theatre space with lights and black outs. We can’t wait to catch up with you all again soon. Thank you!”
Pre-Interns Update:
This week, students have been working hard during class-based sessions, the emphasis has been around working towards understanding customer service and its importance. We have been looking into ways of creating a positive first impression and the benefits, how to show high levels of good customer service and how poor customer service has an impact on customers, staff and organisations, as well as understanding how to put all this into practice when attending placements.
At the RSPCA this week the focus is around students who have attended RSPCA and The Roxy Cafe. We have been supporting them to build on transferable skills to a high standard. These are important to take away and use not only in day to day life but also when attending other placements over the course of the year.
Decklan is now settled at the RSPCA and getting to know the people he is working with within the team and independently to complete tasks.
Plenty of positive feedback has been received by staff who have worked with him this week expressing how he is a hardworking, valued member of the team.
Decklan said – ‘’Placement has been exciting, I have loved learning new things such as cleaning to high standards and improving my communication and teamwork skills’’
The Roxy Café
Students who have attended the Roxy Café have also had a positive week and excelled when demonstrating customer service skills. Staff feedback has been fantastic explaining how students have adapted to the environment so quickly and have a real awareness of their surroundings. Placement has included a variety of tasks such as working in the café prepping and serving, filling vending machines, general cleaning duties and restocking around the building its self.
Saaim – ‘’Placement this week has been great and I’m learning new skills everyday. My communication with people is getting better and my cleaning skills are improving too.’’
Danny B – ‘’This week at placement I have enjoyed it, my communication skills and confidence are improving. I feel working in the café will help me in the future.’’
We have been extremely impressed this week with the work ethic, application and dedication of all students who have attended placement. It’s great to see the progression that is being made!
Activ8 Blog
Personalities are now shining in Activ8, here is a look into their week…
Bright eyed and bushy tailed, on Wednesday morning, the team continued their work on nutrition.
Aaron was fantastic throughout, he was able to place different foods into the correct food groups, consistently. Mr. Lawrence is over the moon with his progress, keep up the good work, Aaron!
Our home away from home, David Lloyd’s gym, was our destination. On Wednesday afternoon, Activ8 focused on the ‘ multi station’ that they will be delivering, to primary school students, later on this year. The group is now much more familiar with each station; this will stand them in good stead and a good introduction in the sports leaders accreditation.
Later on, while still at David Lloyd, the squad was in the zone for their basketball session.
Connie’s confidence was beaming; she was efficient in her call and managed the game fantastically well.
Mr. Lawrence, with gang in tow, took a lovely trek to Dovestones. Team building was on the agenda, Activ8 were tasked with Assisting a student around the reservoir, using only a rope and a wheelchair, . It was a good exercise, with lots of fun, but it’s safe to say “ more work needs to be done.”
Everyone had a fantastic time, we will try this again in the future.
Activ8 joined their Lumenus counterparts last week, at Oldham theatre workshop for a piece of theatre around mental health. Four different characters put forward four different scenarios, to outline the importance of not filtering feelings. The group had a fantastic time and it was a lovely change of scene for our Activ8 students.
We would all like to say a MASSIVE “Thank you” to all of the actors, actresses and everyone at Oldham theatre workshop for putting on such a wonderful, heartfelt spectacle.
Sophie J has been out and about in the community; she has recently been attending Isaan gym, in her own time, to attend kickboxing classes. Coach Steve was chuffed to see her attend and show great commitment. Sophie J has inspired her peers to follow in her footsteps. More students would like to visit Steve at kickboxing to get stuck in!
Between the ropes this week, Activ8 have progressed onto combination punching and kicking. Declan has shown he is familiar with the sport and looks forward to it. Steve was impressed with Declan and hopes he can progress further. Activ8 took on a kickboxing circuit, which glued together the fundamentals of kickboxing. Steve definitely made them work!
Same again next week, Steve?
#HelloYellow
Today, on Friday 8 October, Our College site took part in #HelloYellow.
Students dug out yellow items to show young people they’re not alone with their mental health.
We all struggle with how we’re feeling sometimes and it’s normal to have ups and downs. This year might have felt a little more down than up, but it’s the little things that have got us through it – being back with our friends, work colleagues, the morning walks to college, singing in the shower, the perfect cuppa, that Netflix show that got us all buzzing, the bestie who makes you LOL, the teacher who has your back.
Saying #HelloYellow today is a little thing we can do to make a BIG difference to young people’s mental health. Because a little yellow goes a long way.
Mrs Nelson completed a bake and cake at breaktime (we raised £35) and students wore Items of yellow in supporting the charity.
We made a photo frame and passed it around the rooms for students and staff to have some fun with.
Please enjoy looking at the photos of the amazing day we have had .
We look forward to the planning of the next Mental Health world kindness Day on the 12th November.
Mrs Nelson
What a week it’s been!
I hear that some of our students are buzzing to be attending ‘ The Super League Grand Final’ between St Helens and Catalan Dragons.
We hope everyone has a fantastic time.
Have a lovely weekend!
The NBC Team
Rebeckah
